Knockdown aeroplane



G. CAPRONI.

KNOCKDOWN AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1918.

1 ,357,542 Patented Nov. 2, 1920n UNITED STATES GIANNI CAPRONI, OF MILAN, ITALY.4

`KNOCKDOWN AEROPLANE.

Application filed June 8, 1918.

To all zc/zom if muy concern.:

Be it known that l. (iANNi CArnoNi, a subject ot'` the hing of Italy, and residing at Via S. (irregorio :28, Milan, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inKnockdown eroplanes, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention has for its object to provide an improved method of joining together the elements of aeroplanes in general, but more particularly of biplanes having two fuselages, especially for the purpose of increasing the rapidityof assembling and disassembling the various parts, and where, required, reducing toa minimum the bulk of the entire machine and consequently the space taken up by the machines in their sheds and during transport.

One part of this invention relates to the mounting and dismounting of the fuselages of the central cell; a second part of the invention relates to the mounting and dismounting of the-central cell; a third part relates to the construction of the attachment of the landing carriage to the central cell; and a fourth part relates to a peculiar arrangement of the radiators.

In the accompanying drawings a practical form of this invention is illustrated by way of example in its application to a biplane having two fuselages.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a' front view of the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but drawn to a larger scale showing some of the parts detached from the others.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and a front view illustrating the forward portion of the car.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side view and a rear end view of the rear portionof a fuselage. i i p I i the various figures the same jnumerals are employed to designate the samevparts.

1- is the central cell of the apparatus; 2- and -2- are the side cells. -3- and -3- are the longitudinals of the the car provided with a radiator -6- and -6- are the fuselages'. `-7- is the landing carriage. 9 are the en* gines. -10- are the respective radiators.

According to this invention the car -5- and the fuselages -6- and 6- bear exclusively upon the lower Vplane of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920. Serial No. 238,969.

central cell 1 in such a. manner that the lateral cells W2- and -2- can be de tached and dismounted from the central cell independently of the fuselages.

In mounting the parts, the attachment of the lateral cells to the central cell is effected (see Fig. 2 which shows the cell -2- detached by way of explanation) by inserting the tie-rods -lland -llinto the respective connecting sleeves or sockets -l2 and -l2-, and fastening -lLl to -l2-, and llto -l2 by means of bolts extending right through.

The fuselages -6 and -6-- (whereof -6-1 is shown detached by way ofexplanation) are lined to the central cell by means of bolts -13- to the uprights el-L and by means of stirrups '14- to the lower longitudinals 3-.

For the purpose ofrassuring the desired stability of the carriages -7- in the case where the lateral cells are dismonnted, and consequentlyV the respective outer cables -1- are disconnected, each upright i6- is provided with a strut -17- for attachment to the central section of the forward lower longitudinal -3- by means of the stirrups -14-.

This improved method of connection serves also to increase the strength and rigidity of the attachment of thelfuselages.

For the purpose of facilitating still more the dismounting of the machine and at the same time diminishing the passive resistances, the radiators are shifted in the following improved manner: the radiators -10- are placed in front of and below vtheir respective engines andare united to their respective fuselages. The radiator Q8- is placed on the front Aof the car in such a manner as to be able to serve also to heat the said car internally. For this purpose a temperature regulator is provided in connection with the radiator.

aving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in -what manner the same is to be per formed, I declare that what I claim is' 1. A biplane composed of sectional longitudinals and uprights between the longitudinals forming a central cell and side-l cells the longitudinal sections of which are detachably -connected to the' longitudinal sections of the central cell, a landing carriage. having uprights rigidly connected with the bottom of the central cell, a main fuselage mounted in the central cell, sec- 'tral cell. l

2. A biplane as claimed in claim l, where#-V in stirrups are mounted on vthe lower portion of vthe central cell and serving as a dual means for fastening the sides of the secondary fuselages and the upper ends of the bracing struts for the landing carriage.

3. A biplane as claimed in claim l where in sockets are formed at the ends of the longitudinal sections forming the central cell,

tie rods on the inner ends of the longitudinal sections of the side cells and receivable in the sockets and means for detachably retaining the rods in the sockets. i

4f. In an improved construction of aerof planes more particularly of -biplanes as claimed in claim l, the provision of bolt connections between the uprights of said central cell portion and the' uprights of said 2 fuselages; stirrup 'connections betweenjthe longitudlnals of said central cell portion and the longitudinals of said Jfuselages.

5. In an improvedconstruction of aeroplanes more particularly of biplanes as claimed in claim 2 socket and plug connec-` tions between the longitudinals of. the central lcell portion and the longitudinals of thev lateral portions, fbolts to fasten said socket and plug connections, removable strut connections between the carriage uprights and a longitudinal of the lower central cell portion. y

In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specilication.

eiANNI CAPRONI. 

